Second fisherman dies from last week's Oswego River accident

UPDATE: Jim Reed of the Ziff Law Firm in Elmira has been retained to represent the families of Leonard Nichols and Cliff Luther who were swept down the Oswego River Sept. 28.

Nichols, of Wellsburg, was pronounced dead Sept. 28 while Luther, of Horseheads, was resuscitated and rushed to Oswego Hospital where he was listed in critical condition until he died Oct. 5.

Reed said the hydroelectric plant owned by Brookfield Renewable Power improperly discharged a large quantity of water without first sounding any of the required warning sirens. "As a result of this water discharge, Leonard and Cliff, as well as many other fisherman who were fishing downriver from the plant, were caught in powerful currents forcing them to flee for their lives," he said.

"This is the worst sort of tragedy -- a tragedy that could have easily been avoided had the company done what they were required to do," Reed said. They were required to give fisherman fair warning that they were going to release a massive quantity of fast-moving water directly in to the area where many fishermen gather. They failed to sound the alarms and, as a result, many lives were needlessly put in jeopardy."

Oswego, NY -- Clifford Luther, the other fisherman who was swept away in the Oswego River last week, has died at Oswego Hospital.

A hospital nursing supervisor said Luther, 52, of Horseheads, Chemung County, died Tuesday.

He and three friends were fishing the Oswego River near the Brookfield Renewable Power Varick dam Sept. 28 when the water level in the river increased quickly. Luther and Leonard Nichols, 45, of Wellsburg, Chemung County, were swept down river toward Oswego Harbor.

Nichols died that day at the hospital. Luther had been hospitalized in critical condition.

Their companions, Wayne Weller, of Watkins Glen, Schuyler County, and David Robinson, of Hancock, Delaware County, both 46, clung to a sign pole before being rescued by Oswego city fire personnel.

Fishermen who were on the scene that day said Brookfield did not sound an alarm before releasing water down river that day.

A meeting is set for 6 p.m. today at the Econo Lodge in Oswego to discuss safety on the river. Representatives with the city, county tourism, Brookfield power, the Coast Guard, the Port Authority of Oswego, the state Department of Environmental Conservation, local businesses, city agencies and fishing guides and local fishermen will talk about what to do to make the river safer for fishermen.